• Defence Notes

  Pentagon probe finds training, command issues in Niger ambush

  10th May 2018

  A comprehensive probe into 2017’s deadly assault of US and local forces in Niger uncovered a series of avoidable blunders leading up to the attack, …

• Military Logistics

  US Marine Corps seeks lightweight amphibious track

  17th April 2018

  The US Marine Corps (USMC) is looking for a lighter weight amphibious track to enhance both land mobility and water swim performance for its new Amphibious …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2018: Raider two slated to fly this summer

  26th April 2018

  Sikorsky's second S-97 Raider — pitched as a lighter attack helicopter for the US military's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme — has rolled off the …

• Naval Warfare

  How sovereign will the UK’s carriers be?

  17th May 2018

  The eight acres of mobile territory that the UK Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth class carriers will provide have been broadly welcomed, although how truly …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2018: Virtual symposium launched to support industry

  16th May 2018

  The US Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM’s) Science and Technology (S&T;) Directorate has launched a virtual symposium to support industry efforts to identify and enable disruptive …

• Training

  US Marine Corps evaluates Marathon Targets

  19th April 2018

  Although initially looking at Marathon Targets’ robotic target in 2011, the US Marine Corps (USMC) is now conducting a field user assessment trial that is …

• Training

  ROKAF retires T-103 training aircraft

  4th May 2018

  The Republic of Korean Air Force has officially retired its T-103 training aircraft for cadets, the Ministry of National Defence announced on 2 May. T-103, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NASA plans to send mini-helicopter to Mars

  12th May 2018

  The US space agency said 11 May it plans to launch the first-ever helicopter to Mars in 2020, a miniature, unmanned drone-like chopper that could …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  S-100 integrated with PT-8 Oceanwatch

  2nd May 2018

  The PT-8 Oceanwatch payload has been integrated into the Camcopter S-100 UAS, Schiebel announced on 2 May. PT-8 Oceanwatch is a small target detection payload …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF baseline SBIRS constellation complete

  4th May 2018

  The US Air Force's (USAF's) fourth Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite has transmitted its first images back to Earth, Lockheed …

• Naval Warfare

  Azerbaijan Border Guard receives a boost with new OPV

  13th May 2018

  Azerbaijan's coast guard (known as Sahil Mühafizəsinin), part of the country's Border Guard Service or Dövlət Sərhəd Xidmətinin (DSX), has launched its fifth locally built …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Roboteam lets loose flying robot

  23rd April 2018

  Roboteam has completed the design phase of its new flight-capable UGV and several customers within the US Department of Defense (DoD) are lined up, the …

• Land Warfare

  ManTech receives C4I integration contract

  17th April 2018

  ManTech has received a $82 million contract from the US Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR) Atlantic to integrate C4I capabilities into the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Zenoss to support USAF's DCGS

  30th April 2018

  Zenoss will provide software and services for the US Air Force’s Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) programme under a five-year contract announced on 25 April. …

• Military Logistics

  UK shares industrial base vision

  21st May 2018

  UK defence logisticians have ‘thematically similar’ but ‘slightly nuanced’ industrial base views and challenges when compared to those in the United States. And, in much …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ARV (USMC)

  Programme Background The ARV constitutes one component of a wider USMC effort to develop an interconnected network of manned and unmanned platforms more suited to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its aging CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-1Y Venom (Czechia)

  Programme Background Czech Armed Forces intended to use the UH-1Y Venom helicopters in various missions including utility, search and rescue, aerial reconnaissance, air-to-ground support and ...

• Tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Morocco]

  Programme Background The Moroccan Armed Forces have received substantial investment in recent years as the country seeks to maintain parity with its regional rival, Algeria. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Large ULS-A / Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Programme Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Griffon Light Common Armoured Vehicle Platform [Belgium]

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USMC)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Jaguar Medium Common Armoured Vehicle Platform [Belgium]

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z

  In issuing the Force Design 2030 report into the future direction of the USMC, the corps is attempting to steer the course of its development, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  TH-73 Advanced Helicopter Training System - AHTS (TH-57 Replacement)

  Contenders for the competition included the Leonardo single engine TH-119 – a military variant of the AW119Kx – and Bell’s newly upgraded single engine 407GXi. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) (Increment 1) [USMC]

  Programme Background All-in-One UAV Since 2016, the USMC has wished to acquire a UAV that could be deployed from a vessel, be used for various missions, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Mounted (OPF-M) [USMC]

  Programme Background Armed Vehicles In June 2021, Shephard reported that the USMC had selected the HERO-120 for the OPF-M programme. The USMC planned to integrate ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Yanjing Sabre-ER

  The Sabre-ER is a protective multipurpose missile launching system developed by Beijing Zhongzi Yanjing Automobile Co. It is integrated into their YJ2080C2 light armored vehicle, ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  LTMPAV Dino 519

  The Dino 519 is a light tactical multi-purpose armored vehicle (LTMPAV) developed by Team Concept, a Poland-based armored vehicle manufacturer. 

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV

  BAE Systems teamed with Iveco Defence to offer a version of Iveco Defence Vehicle's Superav for the USMC's Armored Combat Vehicle Phase 1 Increment 1 ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Corsar

  The Corsar (RK-3) is a light, portable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system designed and manufactured by the Ukrainian state enterprise State Kyiv Design Bureau 'Luch'. ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  JAB

  The US Army is leading the Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) project to replace legacy M60A1-based bridge launchers in service with itself and USMC with an M1-based ...

• Light UGVs

  XM1216 SUGV

  The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) is a tactical system that can enter and secure areas that are either inaccessible or too dangerous for ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Jaguar EBRC

  The Jaguar Armored Reconnaissance and Combat Vehicle (EBRC) is a 6x6 armoured reconnaissance vehicle manufactured by a consortium formed of Nexter Systems, Arquus (formerly Renault Trucks Defense) and ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  ALTV

  The ACMAT Light Tactical Vehicle (ALTV) is the first military pickup produced in France that is dedicated to tactical missions. Available as a two-seater single ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Flyer 60 ALSV

  General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), in partnership with Flyer Defense, developed the Flyer 60 Advanced Light Strike Vehicle (ALSV) in parallel with the ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  M1150 ABV

  The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) project, launched by the USMC in 2002, is a joint programme to meet the requirements of both the US ...

• Land: RWS

  LW30/RS6

  The LW30 (since rebranded RS6) is part of the Protector RWS family developed by Kongsberg. Designed to carry a heavier armament than earlier Protector systems, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Cottonmouth

  The Cottonmouth is a purpose-built 6x6 amphibious reconnaissance vehicle designed by Textron Systems to meet the requirements of the USMC's Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) programme. It ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1W SuperCobra

  Bell’s AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopter was developed from the AH-1T for the USMC. It has been in service since 1986 to the present day, first ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Commando Elite

  The 4x4 Commando Elite is an improved derivative of Textron's M1117 Armored Security Vehicle which offers improved mobility, lethality and survivability. The Canadian Army chose ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Type 82

  The Type 82 command and communications vehicle was developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to perform specialised roles for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) such ...